The signing of Vladimir Guerrero comes as a low-risk/high-reward move for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was signed to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million, which will be prorated based on his time with the club this season. At 37 years of age, it remains to be seen how much Vladdy has to offer. He is probably Hall of Fame bound as he is a career .318 hitter with 449 home runs and 1,496 RBI. Adam Lind will likely be most affected if Guerrero can play his way onto the Blue Jays’ roster. As of May 15, he is batting just .184 with three homers and 11 RBI in 31 games.Begin Slideshow
Where Does Jarrod Parker Rank Among A’s Recent Top Young Arms?
Though his major league career is still extremely young, it's hard not to notice why the Oakland A's were willing to part with a player like Trevor Cahill to acquire Jarrod Parker. After a few late shaky starts during the spring, Parker was demoted to AAA Sacramento. He was able to rebound, however, going 1-0 with a 2.18 ERA, and more importantly, surrendering only six walks in 22 innings.He was then able to continue that success once promoted to Oakland in late April. Allowing only two earned runs or less in each of his four starts, he has surpassed expectations thus far this season, but his control is still a concern. In his last two starts, he has given up a combined nine walks in only 12.2 innings pitched.If he is to continue this level of success, then control is one aspect of his game that needs to drastically improve. ...
Why Matt Kemp’s DL Stint Will Not Derail the Dodgers’ Magical Season
What had been a dream season for the Los Angeles Dodgers thus far took a major blow on Monday, with news that MVP favorite Matt Kemp would be put on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring. Going into Tuesday's play, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball at 24-11 and the largest first-place margin among the six division leaders. Perhaps that six-game lead over an increasingly weak-looking NL West is enough of a cushion for the Dodgers to withstand two weeks without their best player.However, even without that cushion, the Dodgers should be able to get by without Kemp in the lineup temporarily. Obviously, they're a lesser team without him, and no club can enjoy sustained success with their best player on the DL. Several things have to go right for the Dodgers to continue winning games while Kemp is out. But these three factors are working in ...
MLB: Retirement Is "Difficult" Yet Rewarding for Tim Wakefield
Tim Wakefield recently told Jon Paul Morosi of CBS Sports about how he is settling into his retirement. In his exact words as reported on Twitter:"It's been difficult. The fire to compete is still there. But it's been fun to be home, be a dad, a husband." Many baseball players go through this same set of emotions. It must be exciting to finally settle in to a more "normal" life of staying at home and being with the family. However, at the same time, it must be difficult to leave behind a game that has surely influenced his life in such a great way. Wakefield is definitely not the first baseball player to experience this phenomenon. Just recently, Andy Pettitte tried his hand at the retirement lifestyle, but is back in Major League Baseball after only one year away. I am not claiming that Wakefield will return next season, but ...
Carlos "Chooch Train" Ruiz Keeps on Rolling
Its election time again. Philadelphians know what that means.
Vote early. Vote often.
This is not about city council, though. Nor is it about blue and red states.
It certainly has nothing to do with the mayor’s office.
The constituency is located in Ashburn Alley. The candidates wear white with cherry pinstripes.
Balloting is underway for this year’s MLB All Star game.
The annual mid summer classic is scheduled to take place on July 10th at Kaufman Stadium, home
of the Kansas City Royals.
As tradition dictates, baseball fans choose the starting lineups. The process is democratic, but not perfect. The most qualified players don't always take the field.
Popularity plays a role. Fans vote according to their hearts, not their heads.
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., for example, was voted a starter in 2000 while hitting .239 during that season’s first half.
Further complicating things, MLB rules stipulate that each franchise is represented with at least one player on the roster.
Admittedly, in the ...
Asdrubal Cabrera: Should the Indians Offer a Long Term Contract?
When people look back at trades that worked out for the Indians, it makes it easier to forget about those that didn't. Sure, the Indians haven't had much success with Matt LaPorta after dealing CC Sabathia to Milwaukee, but how about that Eduardo Perez to Seattle for Asdrubal Cabrera deal? That was "winning" before Charlie Sheen dropped the catch-phrase. Cabrera is an excellent shortstop. He had a monstrous breakout season in 2011, making his first All-Star team and winning his first Silver Slugger by hitting .273/.332/.460 with 25 home runs, 32 doubles, three triples, 92 RBI, and 17 steals. Some wondered how he would fare in 2012, especially after a .244/.310/.419 line in the second half of 2011, but he is doing well so far this season. Cabrera has posted a .316/.414/.500 line, with three home runs, 12 doubles, 13 RBI, and two steals, but most importantly, he has a 9:17 K:BB, after ...
Josh Hamilton: Rangers Star Has Legitimate Shot at Snapping Triple Crown Drought
Josh Hamilton is playing baseball like people used to play Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball on Nintendo 64. Hamilton is hitting .400 with 18 home runs and 44 RBI through 34 games this season.No, you are not reading that wrong. Hamilton is throttling opposing pitchers on a nightly basis. He is focused, confident and extremely talented. Hamilton's mind-blowing pace has him chasing an honor only fourteen players in baseball history have ever grabbed: the Major League Triple Crown.Hamilton has been one of baseball's best hitters for the past three years, but his health has been an issue. If Hamilton can stay healthy, he is a legitimate contender to snag baseball's most coveted honor.Hamilton's Triple Crown chances hinge on his success and everyone else's. He will need to stay healthy and perform at an extremely high level if he wants to claim this elusive honor.Let's take a look at Hamilton's batting average, ...
AL Cy Young Award Rankings: Justin Verlander Making a Run at a Repeat
A full week has passed since I last updated my American League Cy Young rankings. It's time to update them again.This time last week, Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver was the clear favorite for the AL Cy Young. The Texas Rangers then proceeded to absolutely destroy him on Sunday.Weaver's claim to the Cy Young was weakened as a result. Fortunately for him, several other notable AL Cy Young pursuers have also gone through some struggles recently.All except one. Justin Verlander has been pitching quite well recently, and it's looking now like he may actually be the man to beat in the American League.That's a question that will be answered within. Here are my updated rankings for the top-five AL Cy Young contenders.Begin Slideshow
5 Early Yankees Disappointments Who Are About to Break out
2012 has been an up-and-down season for the New York Yankees thus far. Some players have been surprisingly hot, while some have been uncharacteristically cold. The team as a whole has gone on hot streaks and cold streaks as well, usually coinciding with the offense.Players like Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and Raul Ibanez have been red-hot to start the 2012 campaign, and are really the only reason that the Yankees have managed a 20-15 record at this point in the season. The heart of the order has stumbled out of the gate, as has the starting pitching staff as a whole, and when Mariano Rivera went down with a season-ending ACL injury, even the Yankees' greatest strength, their lock-down bullpen, took a major hit.However, as of late, things have begun to turn around for a handful of key Yankees figures. If these guys can keep moving in the ...